Semiconductor structure and method of forming the same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including a logic region and a memory region adjacent to the logic region. The memory region includes a first N th  metal line of an N th  metal layer, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) over first N th  metal line, and a first (N+1) th  metal via of an (N+1) th  metal layer, the first (N+1) th  metal via being disposed over the MTJ layer. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND

Semiconductors are used in integrated circuits for electronic applications, including radios, televisions, cell phones, and personal computing devices. One type of well-known semiconductor device is the semiconductor storage device, such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), or flash memories, both of which use charges to store information.

A more recent development in semiconductor memory devices involves spin electronics, which combines semiconductor technology and magnetic materials and devices. The spin polarization of electrons, rather than the charge of the electrons, is used to indicate the state of “1” or “0.” One such spin electronic device is a spin torque transfer (STT) magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) device

MTJ device includes free layer, tunnel layer, and pinned layer. The magnetization direction of free layer can be reversed by applying a current through tunnel layer, which causes the injected polarized electrons within free layer to exert so-called spin torques on the magnetization of free layer. Pinned layer has a fixed magnetization direction. When current flows in the direction from free layer to pinned layer, electrons flow in a reverse direction, that is, from pinned layer to free layer. The electrons are polarized to the same magnetization direction of pinned layer after passing pinned layer; flowing through tunnel layer; and then into and accumulating in free layer. Eventually, the magnetization of free layer is parallel to that of pinned layer, and MTJ device will be at a low resistance state. The electron injection caused by current is referred to as a major injection.

When current flowing from pinned layer to free layer is applied, electrons flow in the direction from free layer to pinned layer. The electrons having the same polarization as the magnetization direction of pinned layer are able to flow through tunnel layer and into pinned layer. Conversely, electrons with polarization differing from the magnetization of pinned layer will be reflected (blocked) by pinned layer and will accumulate in free layer. Eventually, magnetization of free layer becomes anti-parallel to that of pinned layer, and MTJ device will be at a high resistance state. The respective electron injection caused by current is referred to as a minor injection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a semiconductor structure, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a semiconductor structure, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 to FIG. 22 are cross sections of a semiconductor structure fabricated at various stages, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in the respective testing measurements. Also, as used herein, the term “about” generally means within 10%, 5%, 1%, or 0.5% of a given value or range. Alternatively, the term “about” means within an acceptable standard error of the mean when considered by one of ordinary skill in the art. Other than in the operating/working examples, or unless otherwise expressly specified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts, values and percentages such as those for quantities of materials, durations of times, temperatures, operating conditions, ratios of amounts, and the likes thereof disclosed herein should be understood as modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the present disclosure and attached claims are approximations that can vary as desired. At the very least, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Ranges can be expressed herein as from one endpoint to another endpoint or between two endpoints. All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, unless specified otherwise.

Embedded MRAM cell in a CMOS structure has been continuously developed. A semiconductor circuit with embedded MRAM cell includes an MRAM cell region and a logic region separated from the MRAM cell region. For example, the MRAM cell region may locate at the center of the aforesaid semiconductor circuit while the logic region may locate at a periphery of the semiconductor circuit. Note the previous statement is not intended to be limiting. Other arrangement regarding the MRAM cell region and the logic region are enclosed in the contemplated scope of the present disclosure.

In the MRAM cell region, a transistor structure can be disposed under the MRAM structure. In some embodiments, the MRAM cell is embedded in the metallization layer prepared in a back-end-of-line (BEOL) operation. For example, the transistor structures in the MRAM cell region and in the logic region are disposed in a common semiconductor substrate, prepared in a front-end-of-line operation, and are substantially identical in the aforesaid two regions in some embodiments. Conventionally, the MRAM cell is embedded between adjacent metal line layers distributed horizontally parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. For instance, the embedded MRAM can be located between the 4^(th) metal line layer and the 5^(th) metal line layer in an MRAM cell region. Horizontally shifted to the logic region, the 4^(th) metal line layer is connected to the 5^(th) metal line layer though a 4^(th) metal via. In other words, taking the MRAM cell region and the logic region into consideration, the embedded MRAM occupies a thickness of at least the 4^(th) metal via. The number provided for the metal line layer herein is not limiting. In general, people having ordinary skill in the art can understand that the MRAM is located between an N^(th) metal line layer and an (N+1)^(th) metal line layer, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

The embedded MRAM includes a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) composed of ferromagnetic materials. A bottom electrode and a top electrode are electrically coupled to the MTJ for signal/bias conveyance. Following the example previously provided, the bottom electrode is further connected to the N^(th) metal line layer, whereas the top electrode is further connected to the (N+1)^(th) metal line layer.

As the CMOS technology node goes down, the thickness of the inter-metal dielectric (IMD) in the back-end-of-line (BEOL) continues to scale down and become significantly thin in technology node N16 and beyond. However, due to processing barrier, the thickness of the MTJ cannot be reduced accordingly, rendering embedded MRAM no longer fitted in the conventional embedding scheme. For example, an average thickness of the MTJ stack (including the upper electrode, the lower electrode, and the MTJ layer sandwiched there between) is about 1000 Å. In technology node N40, the IMD thickness between two adjacent metal line layers is over 1200 Å (here the IMD thickness is referred to a space height between the 4^(th) metal line layer and the 5^(th) metal line layer), MTJ stack can be embedded in the memory region of the N40 embedded MRAM circuit. When the technology node moves to N16, the IMD thickness becomes too thin (i.e., 750 Å) to properly accommodate the MTJ stack (i.e., 1000 Å). Let alone the N10 technology node, where arranging the MTJ stack in the space of the IMD (i.e., thinner than 700 Å) is nearly impossible.

The present disclosure provides an embedded MRAM integrating an MTJ with CMOS technology node N16 and beyond. The MTJ can be integrated between an N^(th) metal line and an (N+M)^(th) metal via, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. For example, an MTJ in a memory region of a CMOS with embedded MRAM can be laterally corresponding to a 3^(rd) metal line and a 4^(th) metal via in the logic region. For another example, an MTJ in a memory region of a CMOS with embedded MRAM can be laterally corresponding to a 1^(st) metal line and a 3^(rd) metal via in the logic region.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a cross section of a semiconductor structure 10, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The semiconductor structure 10 can be a semiconductor circuit including a MRAM cell region 100A and a logic region 100B. Each of the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B has a transistor structure 101 in a semiconductor substrate 100. In some embodiments, the transistor structures 101 are substantially identical in the MRAM cell region 100A and in the logic region 100B. In some embodiments, the semiconductor substrate 100 may be but is not limited to, for example, a silicon substrate. In an embodiment, substrate 100 is a semiconductor substrate, such as a silicon substrate, although it may include other semiconductor materials, such as silicon germanium, silicon carbide, gallium arsenide, or the like. In the present embodiment, the semiconductor substrate 100 is a p-type semiconductor substrate (P-Substrate) or an n-type semiconductor substrate (N-Substrate) comprising silicon. Alternatively, the substrate 100 includes another elementary semiconductor, such as germanium; a compound semiconductor including silicon carbide, gallium arsenic, gallium phosphide, indium phosphide, indium arsenide, and/or indium antimonide; an alloy semiconductor including SiGe, GaAsP, AlInAs, AlGaAs, GaInAs, GaInP, and/or GaInAsP; or combinations thereof. In yet another alternative, the semiconductor substrate 100 is a semiconductor on insulator (SOI). In other alternatives, semiconductor substrate 100 may include a doped epi layer, a gradient semiconductor layer, and/or a semiconductor layer overlying another semiconductor layer of a different type, such as a silicon layer on a silicon germanium layer. The semiconductor substrate 100 may or may not include doped regions, such as a p-well, an n-well, or combination thereof.

The semiconductor substrate 100 further includes heavily doped regions such as sources 103 and drains 105 at least partially in the semiconductor substrate 100. A gate 107 is positioned over a top surface of the semiconductor substrate 100 and between the source 103 and the drain 107. Contact plugs 108 are formed in inter-layer dielectric (ILD) 109, and may be electrically coupled to the transistor structure 101. In some embodiments, the ILD 109 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 100. The ILD 109 may be formed by a variety of techniques for forming such layers, e.g., chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low-pressure CVD (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD), sputtering and physical vapor deposition (PVD), thermal growing, and the like. The ILD 109 above the semiconductor substrate 100 may be formed from a variety of dielectric materials and may, for example, be an oxide (e.g., Ge oxide), an oxynitride (e.g., GaP oxynitride), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), a nitrogen-bearing oxide (e.g., nitrogen-bearing SiO₂), a nitrogen-doped oxide (e.g., N₂-implanted SiO₂), silicon oxynitride (Si_(x)O_(y)N_(z)), and the like.

FIG. 1 shows a planar transistor having a doped region in the semiconductor substrate 100. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any non-planar transistor, such as a FinFET structure, can have raised doped regions.

In some embodiments, a shallow trench isolation (STI) 111 is provided to define and electrically isolate adjacent transistors. A number of STI 111 are formed in the semiconductor substrate 100. The STI 111, which may be formed of suitable dielectric materials, may be provided to isolate a transistor electrically from neighboring semiconductor devices such as other transistors. The STI 111 may, for example, include an oxide (e.g., Ge oxide), an oxynitride (e.g., GaP oxynitride), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), a nitrogen-bearing oxide (e.g., nitrogen-bearing SiO₂), a nitrogen-doped oxide (e.g., N₂-implanted SiO₂), silicon oxynitride (Si_(x)O_(y)N_(z)), and the like. The STI 111 may also be formed of any suitable “high dielectric constant” or “high K” material, where K is greater than or equal to about 8, such as titanium oxide (Ti_(x)O_(y), e.g., TiO₂), tantalum oxide (Ta_(x)O_(y), e.g., Ta₂O₅), barium strontium titanate (BST, BaTiO₃/SrTiO₃), and the like. Alternatively, the STI 111 may also be formed of any suitable “low dielectric constant” or “low K” dielectric material, where K is less than or equal to about 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, a metallization structure 101′ is disposed above the transistor structure 101. Because the N^(th) metal line 121A′ of the N^(th) metal layer 121 may not be the first metal layer over the transistor structure 101, the omission of a portion of the metallization structure 101′ is represented by dots. In the MRAM cell region 100A, an MTJ structure 130 is disposed between an N^(th) metal line 121A′ of the N^(th) metal layer 121 and an (N+1)^(th) metal via 124A of the (N+1)^(th) metal layer 123, whereas in the logic region 100B, the N^(th) metal line 121B′ is connected to the (N+1)^(th) metal via 124B by an N^(th) metal via 122 of the N^(th) metal layer 121 and an (N+1)^(th) metal line 123′ of the (N+1)^(th) metal layer 123. In some embodiments, the metal lines and metal vias are filled with electrically conductive material, e.g. copper, gold or another suitable metal or alloy, to form a number of conductive vias. Metal lines and metal vias in different metal layers form an interconnect structure composed of substantially pure copper (for example, with a weight percentage of copper being greater than about 90 percent, or greater than about 95 percent) or copper alloys, and may be formed using the single and/or dual damascene processes. Metal lines and metal vias may be, or may not be, substantially free from aluminum. Interconnect structure includes a plurality of metal layers, namely M₁, M₂ . . . M_(N). Throughout the description, the term “metal layer” refers to the collection of the metal lines in the same layer. Metal layers M₁ through M_(N) are formed in inter-metal dielectrics (IMDs) 127, which may be formed of oxides such as un-doped Silicate Glass (USG), Fluorinated Silicate Glass (FSG), low-k dielectric materials, or the like. The low-k dielectric materials may have k values lower than 3.8, although the dielectric materials of IMDs 127 may also be close to 3.8. In some embodiments, the k values of the low-k dielectric materials are lower than about 3.0, and may be lower than about 2.5. The N^(th) metal via 122 and the (N+1)^(th) metal line 123′ may be formed by a variety of techniques, e.g., electroplating, electroless plating, high-density ionized metal plasma (IMP) deposition, high-density inductively coupled plasma (ICP) deposition, sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and the like.

Referring to the MRAM cell region 100A of the semiconductor structure 10, the MTJ structure 130 at least includes a bottom electrode 131, a top electrode 133, and an MTJ 135. In some embodiments, the bottom electrode 131 possesses a trapezoidal recess in a composite layer including SiC 141 and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) 142. Alternatively, the TEOS 142 can be replaced or combined with silicon-rich oxides (SRO). In some embodiments, the bottom electrode 131 may include metal nitrides. In some embodiments, the top electrode 133 may include metal nitrides. Materials constituting the bottom electrode 131 and the top electrode 133 may or may not be identical. In some embodiments, the bottom electrode may compose more than one material and form a material stack. In some embodiments, the bottom electrode includes TiN, TaN, W, Al, Ni, Co, Cu, or combinations thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom electrode 131 is electrically coupling to the first N^(th) metal line 121A′.

Comparing the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B, a thickness of the MTJ structure 130 is substantially equal to a sum of the thickness T2 of the N^(th) metal via 122 and the thickness T1 of the (N+1)^(th) metal line 123′. In some embodiments, the sum of T1 and T2 is substantially in a range of from about 1000 Å to about 1200 Å.

In some embodiments as shown in the MRAM cell region 100A of FIG. 1, the (N+1)^(th) metal via 124A and 124B is partially surrounded by SiC 141 in addition to being surrounded by the IMDs 127, while the (N+1)^(th) metal line 123′ in the logic region 100B is surrounded by the IMDs 127 only. As shown in FIG. 1, a sidewall of the MTJ 135 is protected by a protection layer 128 such as a nitride layer. In some embodiments, the protection layer 128 includes silicon nitrides. In some embodiments, a dielectric layer 129 can be disposed over the protection layer 128. In some embodiments, a TEOS layer 143 can be disposed over the SiC 141, surrounding the (N+1)^(th) metal via 124A and 124B.

In some embodiments, the bottom electrode 131 of the MTJ structure 130 is electrically coupled with the doped region. In some embodiments, the doped region is a drain 105 or a source 103. In other embodiments, the bottom electrode 131 of the MTJ structure 130 is electrically coupled with the gate 107. In some embodiments, the gate 107 of the semiconductor structure 10 can be a polysilicon gate or a metal gate.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a cross section of a semiconductor structure 20, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Identical numeral labels in FIG. 2 are referred to identical elements or equivalents thereof as shown in FIG. 1 and are not repeated here for simplicity. A difference between the semiconductor structure 20 from the semiconductor structure 10 lies in that the MTJ structure 130 is embedded between the N^(th) metal line 121A′ and the (N+M)th metal via 126A, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and M equals to 2. Comparing the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B, a thickness of the MTJ structure 130 is substantially equal to a sum of the thickness T6 of the N^(th) metal via 122, the thickness T5 of the (N+1)^(th) metal line 123′, the thickness T4 of the (N+1)^(th) metal via 124, and the thickness T3 of the (N+2)^(th) metal line 125′. In some embodiments, the sum of T3, T4, T5, and T6 is substantially in a range of from about 1000 Å to about 1200 Å.

FIG. 3 to FIG. 22 are cross sections of a CMOS-MEMS structure fabricated at various stages, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In FIG. 3, a semiconductor structure having a predetermined MRAM cell region 100A and a logic region 100B is provided. In some embodiments, a transistor structure is pre-formed in a semiconductor substrate (not shown in FIG. 3). The integrated circuit device may undergo further CMOS or MOS technology processing to form various features known in the art. For example, one or more contact plugs, such as silicide regions, may also be formed. The contact features may be coupled to the source and drain. The contact features comprise silicide materials, such as nickel silicide (NiSi), nickel-platinum silicide (NiPtSi), nickel-platinum-germanium silicide (NiPtGeSi), nickel-germanium silicide (NiGeSi), ytterbium silicide (YbSi), platinum silicide (PtSi), iridium silicide (IrSi), erbium silicide (ErSi), cobalt silicide (CoSi), other suitable conductive materials, and/or combinations thereof. In an example, the contact features are formed by a salicide (self-aligned silicide) process.

A first N^(th) metal line 121A′ is patterned in a dielectric layer 127 over the transistor structure in the MRAM cell region 100A. A second N^(th) metal line 121B′ is patterned in a dielectric layer 127 over the transistor structure in the logic region 100B. The first and the second N^(th) metal lines 121A′ and 121B′ (collectively the “N^(th) metal line”) are formed concurrently through a single patterning operation. In some embodiments, the N^(th) metal line can be formed of an electroplating operation with a Cu seed layer deposited over the patterned dielectric layer 127. In other embodiments, the N^(th) metal line may be formed by a variety of techniques, e.g., electroless plating, high-density ionized metal plasma (IMP) deposition, high-density inductively coupled plasma (ICP) deposition, sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and the like. A planarization operation is performed to expose a top surface of the N^(th) metal line and the top surface of the dielectric layer 127.

In FIG. 4, a barrier layer 140 in a form of a stacking layer including a SiC layer 141 and a TEOS/SRO layer 142 are blanket deposited over a top surface of the N^(th) metal line and a top surface of the dielectric layer 127, in both the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B. The barrier layer 140 can be formed by a variety of techniques, e.g., chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low-pressure CVD (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD), sputtering and physical vapor deposition (PVD), thermal growing, and the like. In FIG. 5, a photoresist layer (not shown) is patterned over the stacking layer to expose a bottom electrode region of the MTJ structure. As shown in FIG. 5, a bottom electrode via hole 131′ is formed in the barrier layer 140 by a suitable dry etch operation. In some embodiments, the dry etch in the present operation includes reactive ion etch (RIE) adopting fluorine-containing gases. In some embodiments, the present dry etch operation can be any suitable dielectric etch to form via trenches in a metallization structure of conventional CMOS technology. Referring to the logic region 100B as shown in FIG. 5, the barrier layer 140 is protected by the photoresist layer (not shown) such that a top surface of the second N^(th) metal line 121B′ is not exposed as opposed to the counterpart in the MRAM cell region 100A.

In FIG. 6, a diffusion barrier layer 161 is blanket lined over the bottom electrode via hole 131′ in the MRAM cell region 100A and over the barrier layer 140 in the logic region 100B. Subsequently, a first deposition of bottom electrode material 131A is conducted to be disposed over the diffusion barrier layer 161 and the barrier layer 140. The first deposited bottom electrode material 131A may be formed by a variety of techniques, e.g., high-density ionized metal plasma (IMP) deposition, high-density inductively coupled plasma (ICP) deposition, sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and the like. The first deposited bottom electrode material 131A is then etched back to level with a top surface of the barrier layer 140, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, a second deposition of bottom electrode material 131B is blanket formed over the first deposited bottom electrode material 131A and the barrier layer 140. The second deposited bottom electrode material 131B may be formed by a variety of techniques, e.g., high-density ionized metal plasma (IMP) deposition, high-density inductively coupled plasma (ICP) deposition, sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and the like. The second deposited bottom electrode material 131B is then thinned to a predetermined thickness, as illustrated in FIG. 9. In some embodiments, etch back operation includes a lithography operation. In some embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer 161 can be composed of nitride materials, for example, TaN. The first deposited bottom electrode material 131A and the second deposited bottom electrode material 131B can be composed of metal nitride such as TaN, TiN, or the combinations thereof.

FIG. 10 shows the top electrode formation of an MTJ structure. In FIG. 10, an MTJ 135 is deposited in a form of multiple material stacks over the bottom electrode 131B. In some embodiments, the MTJ 135 is having a thickness of from about 150 Å to about 300 Å. The MTJ 135 may be formed by variety of techniques, e.g., high-density ionized metal plasma (IMP) deposition, high-density inductively coupled plasma (ICP) deposition, sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and the like. In some embodiments, the MTJ 135 may include ferromagnetic layers, spacers, and a capping layer. The capping layer is formed on the ferromagnetic layer. Each of the ferromagnetic layers may include ferromagnetic material, which may be metal or metal alloy, for example, Fe, Co, Ni, CoFeB, FeB, CoFe, FePt, FePd, CoPt, CoPd, CoNi, TbFeCo, CrNi or the like. The spacer may include non-ferromagnetic metal, for example, Ag, Au, Cu, Ta, W, Mn, Pt, Pd, V, Cr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru or the like. Another spacer may also include insulator, for example, Al₂O₃, MgO, TaO, RuO or the like. The capping layer may include non-ferromagnetic material, which may be a metal or an insulator, for example, Ag, Au, Cu, Ta, W, Mn, Pt, Pd, V, Cr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Ir, Re, Os, Al₂O₃, MgO, TaO, RuO or the like. The capping layer may reduce write current of its associated MRAM cell. The ferromagnetic layer may function as a free layer whose magnetic polarity or magnetic orientation can be changed during write operation of its associated MRAM cell. The ferromagnetic layers and the spacer may function as a fixed or pinned layer whose magnetic orientation may not be changed during operation of its associated MRAM cell. It is contemplated that the MTJ 135 may include an antiferromagnetic layer in accordance with other embodiments. Following the formation of the MTJ 135, a top electrode layer 133 is deposited over the MTJ 135. The top electrode layer 133 may be formed by a variety of techniques, e.g., high-density ionized metal plasma (IMP) deposition, high-density inductively coupled plasma (ICP) deposition, sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and the like.

Referring to FIG. 11, a mask layer (not shown) exposing a desired MTJ pattern is formed over the top electrode layer 133 for the ensuing MTJ structure formation. The mask layer possessing the desired MTJ pattern in the MRAM cell region 100A and may have a multi-layer structure, which may include, for example, an oxide layer, an advanced patterning film (APF) layer and an oxide layer. Each of the oxide layer, the APF layer, and the oxide layer may be formed by a variety of techniques, e.g., high-density ionized metal plasma (IMP) deposition, high-density inductively coupled plasma (ICP) deposition, sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and the like. In some embodiments, the mask layer is configured to pattern the MTJ 135, the top electrode 133, and the second deposited bottom electrode 131B. For example, a width of the masking region is determined according to the desired MTJ diameter. In some embodiments, the MTJ 135 and the top electrode 133 are formed by an RIE to have a trapezoidal shape viewing from a cross section.

In FIG. 12, a protection layer 128 is conformally formed over the MTJ 135 and the top electrode 133. In some embodiments, the protection layer 128 possesses a thickness of from about 50 Å to about 300 Å. Note a sidewall of the MTJ 135 and the sidewall of the second deposited bottom electrode 131B are surrounded by the protection layer 128 to prevent oxidation or other contamination. Subsequently, a dielectric layer 129 such as a TEOS layer is conformally deposited over the protection layer 128. In some embodiments, a thickens of the dielectric layer 129 is to be determined according to a level of a top surface thereof relative to the top surface of the top electrode 133. For example, a top surface of the dielectric layer 129 at the logic region 100B is to be greater than or about equal to a top surface of the top electrode 133 of an MTJ structure 130. In FIG. 13, an etch back operation is performed on the dielectric layer 129 such that the top surface of the dielectric layer 129 is substantially flat across the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B. As shown in FIG. 13, the top surface of the top electrode 133 is exposed from the dielectric layer 129 after the etch back operation.

In FIG. 14 to FIG. 16, an upper portion of the barrier layer 140, the protection layer 128, and the dielectric layer 129 are removed from the logic region 100B through an etch back operation, as illustrated in FIG. 14. Hence, the MRAM cell region 100A is in greater height than the logic region 100B. In FIG. 15, a dielectric layer-low k-dielectric layer composite 180 is formed to comformally cover the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B. A step difference 181 can be observed in FIG. 15, therefore, an etch back operation as illustrated in FIG. 16 is performed to obtain a substantially flat top surface for the following trench formation in the logic region 100B. Conventionally, the metal trench formation is conducted both in the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B, such that, for example, an N^(th) metal via trench is formed in the dielectric layer 127 of the logic region 100B, and an (N+1)^(th) metal line trench is formed in the dielectric layer 127 of the logic region 100B and the MRAM cell region 100A. However, in the present disclosure, both the N^(th) metal via trench and the (N+1)^(th) metal line trench are formed in the logic region 100B only, as would be discussed in FIG. 17. Note a dielectric layer 183 of the dielectric layer-low k-dielectric layer composite 180 is remained virtually in the logic region 100B after the aforesaid etch back operation. The dielectric layer 183 is deliberately kept to act as a protection layer for the subsequent trench formation. The dielectric layer 183 can prevent the acidic solution from damaging the low k dielectric layer 127 during a photoresist stripping operation.

In FIG. 17, photoresist (not shown) is patterned over the planarized dielectric surface to form trenches for metal lines and metal via. For example, in the MRAM cell region 100A, no metal trench is formed over the MTJ structure 130, and thus the top surface of the top electrode 133 of the MTJ structure 130 is not exposed. In the logic region 100B, an N^(th) metal via trench and an (N+1)^(th) metal line trench (combinatory 123B) is formed over the second N^(th) metal line 121B′, exposing a top surface of the second N^(th) metal line 121B′. Although not illustrated in FIG. 17, other embodiments of the present disclosure may include forming an N^(th) metal via trench, an (N+1)^(th) metal line trench, an (N+1)^(th) metal via trench, and an (N+2)^(th) metal line trench in the logic region 100B. The aforesaid metal trench formation may involve two consecutive Damascene processes and details are not described here for Damascene process is well known in the CMOS fabrication art. Depending on the technology nodes, space height between adjacent metal line layers are different. For example, the space height between the 3^(rd) metal line layer and the 4^(th) metal line layer is about 750 Å in technology node N16. A stack height of an MTJ structure 130 is more than 750 Å according to the current manufacturing technology. Therefore, in technology node N16, the MTJ structure 130 cannot be vertically arranged between the 3^(rd) metal line layer and the 4^(th) metal line layer. In this connection, a space height between an N^(th) metal line and an (N+1)^(th) metal via may be suitable to accommodate the MTJ structure 130 with the stack height described herein.

With further advanced technology nodes, for example, N10 or beyond, a space height between an N^(th) metal line and an (N+1)^(th) metal via may no longer be enough to accommodate the MTJ structure 130 with the stack height previously described. As a contemplated scope of the present disclosure, the MTJ structure 130 can be embedded between an N^(th) metal line and an (N+M)^(th) metal via, where N is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and M is an integer equal to or greater than 2. The embodiments related to this structure can be referred to FIG. 2 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 2, the MTJ structure 130 is embedded between an N^(th) metal line and an (N+2)^(th) metal via.

In FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, conductive metal fills the metal line trench/metal via trench (hereinafter “trenches”) through, for example, a conventional Dual Damascene operation. The patterned trenches are filled with a conductive material by an electroplating operation, and excess portions of the conductive material are removed from the surface using a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) operation, an etch operation, or combinations thereof. Details of electroplating the trenches are provided below. N^(th) metal via 122 and

(N+M)^(th) metal line 123′ may be formed from W, and more preferably from copper (Cu), including AlCu (collectively, Cu). In one embodiment, (N+M)^(th) metal lines 123′ are formed using the Damascene operation, which should be familiar to those in the art. First, trenches are etched through the low k dielectric layer. This process can be performed by plasma etch operation, such as an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) etch. A dielectric liner (not shown) then may be deposited on the trenches sidewalls. In embodiments, the liner materials may include silicon oxide (SiO_(x)) or silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), which may be formed by plasma deposition process, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) including plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Next, a seed layer of Cu is plated in the trenches. Note the seed layer of Cu may be plated over a top surface of the top electrode 133. Then a layer of copper is deposited in the trenches, followed by planarization of the copper layer, such as by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), down to the top surface of a low k dielectric layer. The exposed copper surface and dielectric layer can be coplanar.

After the planarization operation removing the overburden of the conductive metal as illustrated in FIG. 19, an (N+M)^(th) metal line 123′ in the logic region 100B, as well as an N^(th) metal via 122 in the logic region 100B, are formed. Note at the present operation, no metal lines are formed over the top electrode 133 of the MTJ structure 130 since the MTJ structure 130 occupies at least the vertical space of the N^(th) metal via 122 and the (N+M)^(th) metal line 123′ in the logic region 100B. In FIG. 20, a subsequent barrier layer 141 is formed over the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B. Note in the MRAM cell region 100A, the barrier layer 141 is in contact with a top surface of the top electrode 133 of the MTJ structure 130 at current operation. In other hands, in the logic region, the barrier layer 141 is formed over a top surface of the (N+M)^(th) metal line 123′. It can be shown in FIG. 20, the top surface of the top electrode 133 and the top surface of the (N+M)^(th) metal line 123′ is coplanar.

In FIG. 21, the (N+M)^(th) metal via hole as well as (N+M+1)^(th) metal line trench in both the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B (combinatorily 125A in the MRAM cell region 100A and 125B in the logic region 100B) are formed in the low k dielectric layer 127. Note the (N+M)^(th) metal via hole penetrates through the low k dielectric layer 127 and the barrier layer 141, 142 underneath, exposing the top surface of the top electrode 133 and the top surface of the (N+M)^(th) metal line 123′. In FIG. 22, the (N+M)^(th) metal via hole as well as (N+M+¹)^(th) metal line trench are filled with conductive materials as previously described. In some embodiments, the manufacturing operations in both the MRAM cell region 100A and the logic region 100B are substantially identical after the formation of the (N+M)^(th) metal line 123′.

Subsequent processing may further include forming various contacts/vias/lines and multilayer interconnect features (e.g., metal layers and interlayer dielectrics) over the substrate, configured to connect the various features or structures of the integrated circuit device. The additional features may provide electrical interconnection to the device including the formed metal gate structures. For example, a multilayer interconnection includes vertical interconnects, such as conventional vias or contacts, and horizontal interconnects, such as metal lines. The various interconnection features may implement various conductive materials including copper, tungsten, and/or silicide. In one example a damascene and/or dual damascene process is used to form a copper related multilayer interconnection structure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a semiconductor structure, including a logic region and a memory region adjacent to the logic region. The memory region includes a first N^(th) metal line of an N^(th) metal layer, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) over first N^(th) metal line, and a first (N+1)^(th) metal via of an (N+1)^(th) metal layer, the first (N+1)^(th) metal via being disposed over the MTJ layer. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a semiconductor structure, including a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell. The MRAM cell includes a first N^(th) metal line of an N^(th) metal layer, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) over the first N^(th) metal line, and a first (N+M)^(th) metal via of an (N+M)^(th) metal layer, the first (N+M)^(th) metal via being disposed over the MTJ layer. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure. The method includes (1) forming a first N^(th) metal line in a memory region and a second N^(th) metal line in a logic region, (2) forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) in the memory region, and (3) forming a first (N+M)^(th) metal via directly on the MTJ. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor structure, comprising: a logic region; a memory region adjacent to the logic region, the memory region comprises: a first N^(th) metal line of an N^(th) metal layer; a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) over first N^(th) metal line; and a first (N+1)^(th) metal via of an (N+1)^(th) metal layer, the first (N+1)^(th) metal via being disposed over the MTJ layer, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to
 1. 2. The semiconductor structure of claim 1, wherein the logic region comprises: a second N^(th) metal line of the N^(th) metal layer; a first N^(th) metal via of the N^(th) metal layer, the first N^(th) metal via being disposed over the second N^(th) metal line; a first (N+1)^(th) metal line of the (N+1)^(th) metal layer, the first (N+1)^(th) metal line being disposed over the first N^(th) metal via; and a second (N+1)^(th) metal via of the (N+1)^(th) metal layer, the second (N+1)^(th) metal via being disposed over the first (N+1)^(th) metal line.
 3. The semiconductor structure of claim 2, wherein a sum of a thickness of the first N^(th) metal via and a thickness of the first (N+1)^(th) metal line in the logic region is essentially the same as a thickness of the MTJ in the memory region.
 4. The semiconductor structure of claim 2, wherein the sum of a thickness of the first N^(th) metal via and a thickness of the first (N+1)^(th) metal line in the logic region is smaller than about 1200 Å.
 5. The semiconductor structure of claim 1, wherein the MTJ comprises a top electrode electrically coupling to the first (N+1)^(th) metal via.
 6. The semiconductor structure of claim 1, wherein the MTJ comprises a bottom electrode electrically coupling to the first N^(th) metal line.
 7. The semiconductor structure of claim 1, wherein the MTJ comprises an MTJ layer between a top electrode and a bottom electrode of the MTJ, having a thickness of about 300 Å.
 8. A semiconductor structure, comprising: a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell, comprising: a first N^(th) metal line of an N^(th) metal layer; a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) over the first N^(th) metal line; and a first (N+M)^(th) metal via of an (N+M)^(th) metal layer, the first (N+M)^(th) metal via being disposed over the MTJ layer, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and M is an integer greater than or equal to
 1. 9. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, further comprising: a logic periphery adjacent to the MRAM cell, comprising: a second N^(th) metal line of an N^(th) metal layer; a first N^(th) metal via of the N^(th) metal layer, the first N^(th) metal via being disposed over the second N^(th) metal line; a first (N+M)^(th) metal line of the (N+M)^(th) metal layer, the first (N+M)^(th) metal line being disposed over the first N^(th) metal via; and a second (N+M)^(th) metal via of the (N+M)^(th) metal layer, the second (N+M)^(th) metal via being disposed over the first (N+M)^(th) metal line.
 10. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein a thickness measured from a bottom of the first N^(th) metal via to a top of the first (N+M)^(th) metal line is comparable to a thickness of the MTJ.
 11. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the MTJ comprises a top electrode electrically coupling to the first (N+M)^(th) metal via.
 12. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the MTJ comprises a bottom electrode electrically coupling to the first N^(th) metal line.
 13. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the first N^(th) metal via and the first (N+M)^(th) metal line in the logic periphery are surrounded by low-k dielectric.
 14. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the MTJ is surrounded by a nitride layer.
 15. The semiconductor structure of claim 10, wherein the first (N+M)^(th) metal via and the second (N+M)^(th) metal via are partially surrounded by SiC.
 16. The semiconductor structure of claim 11, wherein a top surface of the top electrode is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the first (N+M)^(th) metal line.
 17. A semiconductor structure, comprising: a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell, comprising: a first N^(th) metal line of an N^(th) metal layer; a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) over the first N^(th) metal line; and a first (N+2)^(th) metal via of an (N+2)^(th) metal layer, the first (N+2)^(th) metal via being disposed over the MTJ layer, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to
 1. 18. The semiconductor structure of claim 17, further comprising: a logic periphery adjacent to the MRAM cell, comprising: a second N^(th) metal line of the N^(th) metal layer; and a second (N+2)^(th) metal via of the (N+2)^(th) metal layer, the second (N+2)^(th) metal via being at the same level of the first (N+2)^(th) metal via.
 19. The semiconductor structure of claim 18, wherein the logic periphery further comprising: an N^(th) metal via of the N^(th) metal layer, the N^(th) metal via being disposed on the second N^(th) metal line; and an (N+1)^(th) metal line of an (N+1)^(th) metal layer, the first (N+1)^(th) metal line being disposed on the first N^(th) metal via; and an (N+1)^(th) metal via of the (N+1)^(th) metal layer, the (N+1)^(th) metal via being disposed on the (N+1)^(th) metal line.
 20. The semiconductor structure of claim 19, wherein the logic periphery further comprising: an (N+2)^(th) metal line of the (N+2)^(th) metal layer, the (N+2)^(th) metal line being disposed between the (N+1)^(th) metal via and the second (N+2)^(th) metal via. 